Frank stilson



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. G. ROCK.

STREET SWEBPER.

No. 352,152. v Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

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' I .3 Sheets-Sheet 2. HG. ROCK.

(No Model.)

STREET SWBEPER.

No. 352,152. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

no Model.) 7 I Y asheets-shet 3.

E. G. ROCK.- V

4 STREET SWBEPER- Patented Nov. 9,1886

WITNESSES v 'UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE c. noon, on WASHINGTON, DISTRICT oEcoLuMBIA;

STREESTY-SWEEPER.

'SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,152, datedNovember 9, 1886.

' Application filed August 19, 1885. Serial No. 174,817, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, EUGENE G. BooK, a citizen of the Unit d States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Street- Sweepers, of which. thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

' This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements instreet-sweepers; and

A it has for its objects, first, to provide means for sustaining thebroom-shaft, and which, while admitting of its up-and-down adjustment,will also hold it against its'tendencyto spring rearward; second, todispense, as far as possible, with shafts and pinions, and to operatethe broom from about the middle of its shaft by means ofsprocket-wheels'an'd a chain, in such manner as to leave but a small gapbetween the broom-sections adjacent to the sprocketwheel on thebroom-shaft, whereby, first, considerable friction is obviated, and,secondly, liability to leave an unswept strip prevented.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andon which similar letters of reference indicate the same or correspondingfeatures, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improvedsweeping-machine; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the same with the broomremoved from the shaft; Fig.3, an elevation of the broom-shaft and itssupporting-frame; Fig. 4, an end view of the broom-shaft, showing onlyone set of brushes in position; Fig. 5, one form of drum for adjustingthe broom; and Fig. 6, an elevation of the elevating-drum, theoperating-shaft, and pin'ions.

The letter A designates the supportingwheels, the same being of anyapproved construction, and mounted loosely upon the front andrear axles,B and C, respectively, a clutchconnection, 1), being employed on therear axle to cause the wheels to rotate the axle when the machine isadvancing.

The letter E designates a frame constructed, essentially, of two sidepieces composed of an upper and lower strip of angle-iron connectedtogether at intervals by suitable braces, as seen more clearly in Fig.2, whereby rigidity and lightness are obtained. Each side piece isarched, the arch of one being in advance of that of the other, so as toallow of the oblique disposition of the broom-shaft, over which the'cident with the axis of the broom-shaft.

arches span. The side pieces of the frame are also braced together bylateral and oblique braces F and G, and at the forward ends areprovided. with suitable bolsters and a fifthwheel, whereby connection ofthe frame is made with the springs of the front axle. The forward end ofthe frame is also provided with a platform, H, and a drivers seat, I.

The letter J designates a strong frame, c0nstructed, preferably, ofwrought-iron, and consisting of end pieces, and upper and lower pieces,K and L, secured together, the upper and lower pieces beingsecured,respectively, to the upper and lower edges of the arches bymeans of bolts or rivets, or otherwise, their position being oblique tothe frame and 0011111- T e pieces K and L areslotted and bored neartheir ends, and in the slots are fitted thebroomshaft hangers M, so asto be adjustable up and down, and to which are connected the supportingand adjusting ropes or chains N, which pass through the holes in thestrips K and L, and thence over pulleys O, mounted upon said pieces, andthence around vertical pulleys or rollers P, also mounted upon the pieceK, and from these latter pulleys to the drum Q, mounted in the framenear the forward end in any convenient manner, and provided with abevel-pini0n which intergears with a like pinion secured to the uprightshaft R, having a hand-wheel, S, and a ratchet, T, with which engages apivoted pawl, U, whereby the hangers M are adjusted and held inany'given position, and the broom accordingly adjusted.

The letter V designates the broom-shaft, which is mounted so as torotate in the lower ends of the hangers M. To this shaft are se cured aconvenient number, inthe present instance four, broom-sections W, eachsection bein'gcomposed of three rows of brushes disposed equidistantlyaround the shaft and in a spiral line, the frame of each sectionconsisting of triangular plates X, secured to the broom-shaft, and thebarsY, secured to said plates. These bars are perforated and the broomstraws or switches are bunched and secured to the bars in any convenientmanner. l I

In some instances it may be desirable to lengthen the sweep of the broomwithout lengthening the broom-shaft, and this is done by placing uponthe ends of the shaft longer broomsections, as seen in Fig. 3. Thesesections consist of three bars provided with brushes and held togetherand braced at one end and in the middle by the plates X, through whichextends the broom-shaft, and at their outer end by the triangular plateor frame 7. As seen in Fig. 3, the frame, consisting of the three barsand the plates, as just described, is slightly twisted or bentlongitudinally, so that the brushes will partake of a spiral form.

About the middle of the broom-shaft V is secured a sprocket-wheel, a,the comparatively narrow face of which admits of the inner broomsections being brought quite close together, whereby all liability toleave an nnswept strip is prevented. Over this sprocket-wheel passes anendless s1'nocket-chain, I).

A driving-shaft, c, is mounted in journals secured, preferably, to theunder edges of the frame E of the machine, its position being parallelto the broom-shaft. It is provided at one end with a sprocket-wheel, 0,over which also passes the chain 1), and at the other with a pinion, f,which meshes with a bevel-cog, 5 loosely mounted upon the axle O, andhaving its hub constructed at one end, so as to form one member of aclutch.

A clutch, F1, is also mounted upon the axle O, and a feather-key isemployed, so as to cause the clutch to turn with the axle, yet to befree to slide. A red, i, at its lower end is fastened to one of themembers of the clutch-connecting rod, and at its upper end is secured toa rod, j, having suitable bearings at the rear and forward part of themachine, and provided near the latter cnd'with a hand-lever, 7;, whichengages with a rack, Z, secured to the platform H, whereby the clutch isoperated to engage and disengage the gear-wheel g by the driver from hisposition on the machine. lhus it will be observed that when thegear-wheel g is engaged by the clutch and the machine is advancingforward a rotary motion will be imparted to the drive-shaft 0, andthrough the chains and sprocket-wheels, already described, alike motionwill be given to broom-shaft in the direction of the arrow, as seen inFig. 2. lhe relative speed of the broom-shaft and the axle will begoverned by the relative size of the pinion and gear and thesprocket-wheels a e, a speed of about three or four revolutions of thebroom'shaft to one of the axle being found effective.

It will be observed that the space between the pieces K and L of thesustainingframe is sufficient to hold the hangers in a vertical positionagainst the rearward strain upon them occasioned by the action of thebroom upon the ground. As an additional safeguard, however, in case thebroom be brought in contact with some obstruction, I provide a brace, m,preferably constructed of channel-iron, and secure it firmly to theunder edges of the framepieces E, and brace its projecting end by a rod,11, as seen clearly in Fig. 1.

To the outer end of the brace m is pivotally connected a bar, 0, whichis also pivotally connected with the broomshaft. By this meansthebroomshaft is additionally braced and the frame of the machine madestiffer, the arches being also relieved of some of the strain.

My machine, above constructed, has its brooms composed of three rows,and by reducing the friction in transmitting the power from the axle tothe broom-shaft I am enabled to drive the latter at a higher speed, thusaccomplishing as much work with this broom as with a broom with agreater number of rows. This reduces expense and weight.

In some instances it is found desirable to elevate and lower one end ofthe broom without affecting the position of the other end. To do this, Isubstitute for the drum already described the form of drum shown in Fig.5, which consists of the two cylindrical bodies 1, mounted upon a shaft,2, suitably journaled under the platform of the machine. Each of thesedrums or cylinders is provided with a cogged rim, 3, and anoperating-shaft, 4:, having a pinion which intergears with said rim, andprovided with a handovhcel, a locking ratchet and pawl being alsoemployed to engage the ratchets.

To the respective drums are secured the re spective ropes or chains forraising and low ering the broom, and by actuating one or the other ofthe drums either end of the broom may be adjusted.

Instead of the cogged rims 3, worm-wheels may be secured to the ends ofthe cylinders or drums and the shafts 4 provided with worms to mesh intothe same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. In astreetsweeper, the combination, with the main frame havingarches, the sustainingframe secured thereto above and below the arches,and the oblique brace and bar connecting with the broomshaft, of thebroomshaft and the hangers carrying the broom-shaft and adjustablyfitted to the sustaining-frame.

2. In a street-sweeper, the combination, with the mainframe havingarches, the sustainingframe secured thereto above and below the arches,the oblique brace secured at the lower part of the frame, and the barconnecting it with the broom-shaft, of the broom-shaft, the hangerscarrying the broom-shaft and adjustably connected with thesustaining-frame, and the ropes or chains and the drum for actuating thesame.

3. In astreet-sweeper, the combination, with the main frame of archedform, and thesustaining-frame secured thereto above and below the archedportion and consisting of end pieces, and upper and lower pieces, theupper pieces being provided with rollers, of the broomshaft connected tothe sustaining-frame.

4. In a street-sweeper, the combination, with the broom-shaft, of aspiral broom-section secured thereto and extending beyond the endthereof, for the purpose of enlarging the area ive drums with thebroom-shaft, whereby the of the broom-sweeps at one passage of themabroom may be adjusted at either end. IO chine. In testimony whereofIaffix my signature in 5. In astreet-sweeper, the combination, withpresence of two witnesses. 5 the main frame, of the broom-shaft and theEUGENE G. ROCK.

hangers which support said shaft, the inde- Witnesses: pendent drums andtheir operating-shafts, and v FRANK STILSON, the ropes or chains whichconnect the respect- 4 L. F. BOISEAU.

